MASCAC Releases Preseason Poll for Football
FITCHBURG, MA: The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) released the 2023 football preseason poll early this afternoon. UMass Dartmouth was selected by the coaches to win the conference crown again in 2023.
The Corsairs earned seven first place votes for 63 points to sit on top of this year's poll. They finished a perfect 8-0 to take home their first-ever MASCAC Regular Season title. Returning to the team is the All-Conference duo of Dante Aviles-Santos and Angel Sanchez. Aviles-Santos earned 2023 Offensive Player of the Year after leading the MASCAC in several categories, including total completions (199), total yards (2,940), yards per game (294), touchdowns (26), and pass efficiency (158.5). Sanchez finished the season third in the nation in receiving yards per game (131.2) and sixth in the country in total receiving yards (1,181) with nine touchdown catches.
Grabbing the second spot with 53 points is Bridgewater State. The Bears were 6-2 in 2022 during conference play and won their New England Bowl Series game. Back leading the team's offense is All-Conference honoree James Cahoon who last season completed 192 of 312 pass attempts for a school single-season record 2,409 yards and 22 touchdowns. He ranked second in the MASCAC in completions, attempts, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.
Sitting in third is WestConn with 47 points and a first place vote. The Wolves also were 6-2 during the 2022 campaign. Running back Chad Blaszky looks to add another All-Conference award to his name after rushing for 1,306 yards on 260 carries with eight touchdowns in 2022.
Framingham State received the final first place vote for 46 points and the fourth spot. The Rams were 4-4 during MASCAC action in 2022. Two major award winners return to the team on both sides of the ball. Brian Callery, 2022 MASCAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, helped the team finish second in the conference in several categories, including rushing yards (2,029), rushing yards per game (202.9), yards per rush (4.8) and rushing first downs (122). Daniel Oloyede of Framingham State, the 2022 MASCAC Defensive Rookie of the Year, collected 25 tackles, including 18 solo, and four sacks for a loss of 25 yards.
Landing in fifth is Plymouth State with 41 points. The Panthers finished 6-2 during the league campaign in 2022. Manny Sanchez finished the regular season with 769 yards on the ground, fourth-most in the league, for 85.44 yards per game. His 11 rushing touchdowns were second-most in the conference.
Massachusetts Maritime comes in sixth with 29 points. The Buccaneers had three wins in conference action in 2022. Quarterback Marc Murphy finished last season second in the MASCAC in total yards (1,934) and yards per game (193.4). He also was third in the league in touchdowns (14).
Coming up in seventh is Westfield State with 19 points. The Owls finished with two wins in conference play last season. Running back Jordan Smith returns after rushing for 569 yards with six touchdowns and caught 33 passes for 313 yards and a TD.
Closing out the 2023 poll in eighth and ninth are Worcester State and Fitchburg State with 16 and 10 points, respectively. Mike Loveless was a dual threat QB for the Lancers in 2022, with five touchdowns on the ground and two in the air, along with 551 yards of total offense. For the Falcons, leading rusher Elijah Zaire McKnight (Tracy, CA) is back on the gridiron after rushing for 400 yards and three scores last season.
Eight of the nine MASCAC football teams begin their 2023 season the weekend of September 1-2 with non-conference play, while Massachusetts Maritime kicks off their season on September 8.
To view the full MASCAC release, click HERE.
2023 MASCAC Football Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)
1. UMass Dartmouth (7) 63 points
2. Bridgewater State 53 points
3. WestConn (1) 47 points
4. Framingham State (1) 46 points
5. Plymouth State 41 points
6. Massachusetts Maritime 29 points
7. Westfield State 19 points
8. Worcester State 16 points
9. Fitchburg State 10 points